Softball splits with No. 18 Tennessee Wesleyan

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (March 16, 2023) – The Milligan University softball team handed No. 18 Tennessee Wesleyan its first Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) defeat of the season as the Buffs and Bulldogs played two tight games at Anglin Field on Thursday. Milligan one game one 3-2 while the TWU won game two 2-1.

The Buffs are now 11-5 on the season and 7-5 in AAC play. TWU moves to 9-6, 5-1 AAC.

Game 1 – Milligan 3, Tennessee Wesleyan 2

For the second season in a row, Milligan pitcher Erin Forgety dealt the Bulldogs their first conference loss with a complete game effort.

The Buffs scored a run in the second inning with McCoy Hensley beating out an infield single to score Kate Pendleton after a nine-pitch at-bat with two outs. The Bulldogs tied the game 1-1 with some aggressive baserunning in the top of the third.

Hensley scored Milligan's go-ahead run after the Bulldogs threw away a bunt off the bat of Grace Jones. Milligan's lead grew to 3-1 in the sixth when Hanna Taylor brought home Pendleton with a sacrifice fly.

Forgety did not allow the Bulldogs to put a runner on base in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. TWU recorded four hits in the seventh to bring the margin to 3-2 and put runners on first and second with two outs before Forgety ended the game with a flyout to right.

Forgety pitched 7.0 innings, allowed six hits and two earned runs in the win.

Pendleton had two hits and a walk and scored twice. Hensley scored, drove in a run and reached base safely twice. Maggie Johnson had two hits.

Game 2 – Tennessee Wesleyan 2, Milligan 1

The Buffs and Bulldogs combined for 18 hits in game two but only three runs were scored in the ballgame.

TWU notched a run in the first and third innings while the Buffs scored in the second on a sacrifice fly by Taylor to score Hensley.

Milligan pitchers combined to strand 13 TWU baserunners on the day. Bree Presnell worked three scoreless innings and Allee Griffith did not allow a run in two innings of work.

The Buffs stranded runners on third base in the second and sixth innings.

Katie Cronin had two hits and a double. Hensley had two hits and scored Milligan's only run.

The Buffs head to Montreat on Monday for a conference doubleheader.